Toad Tales

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This a gold nugget that belonged to my great aunt, Erma.  She got it from her father, my Great grandfather - Nick Simser -
He got several from the Alaska's Gold Rush.  He had earrings made for his wife from of them.  My great aunt did not have pierced ears so she sold one of the nuggets and put a small diamond on the other one and wore it as a necklace. I wear in now.

Here is the History from Story County about him.

NICHOLAS SIMSER. 




Nicholas Simser, who for nearly thirty years past has been engaged in the blacksmith business at Nevada, Iowa, and at the present time serving as member of the city council, is a native of Canada. He was born on a farm, November 3, 1843, and is of good Teutonic ancestry on the paternal side, being the son of John and Martha (Woods) Simser.

 

The father was a native of New York and the mother of Canada. His grandfather, John Simser, adhered to the British cause at the time of the Revolutionary war and fought in the army of the king, seeking safety in Canada after the close of the war, where he spent the remainder of his life. The father of our subject passed his entire life in Canada, where he engaged successfully in farming. He died at an advanced age when the subject of this review was a young man. The mother departed this life in 1876 at the age of eighty years. Her father also fled to Canada at the close of the Revolution, having been an ardent sympathizer of the British. 

Mr. and Mrs. Simser  were both members of the Episcopal church. There were thirteen children in the family, the first two being girls and the next seven, boys, Nicholas being the seventh of the latter in order of birth. 

He was reared on the home farm and gained his early education in the country schools, also being taught by his father the value of labor. After attaining manhood he learned the blacksmith's trade, and in 1865, believing that more favorable opportunities were presented under the flag of the republic, he came to the United States, his 

first employment being upon a bridge which was in course of erection at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After completing that work he worked for four years in a blacksmith shop and then opened a shop of his own at Stockbridge, Wisconsin, which he conducted 

for six years. In tlie spring of 1876 he was allured by the mines to Deadwood, South Dakota, remaining in the Black Hills for four years, a large part of which time he spent eagerly searching for the yellow metal. He was moderately successful in his quest but not finding a fortune he returned to Wisconsin, where he was married, and in May, 1881, he came to Nevada, Iowa, and entered the employment of William Gates. 

Having decided to make this place his prominent home, he purchased a shop that stood on thecorner now occupied by the Peoples Saving Bank, and, his work prospering, he built the shop which he has since owned and which is located a few doors north of the spot of his original establisment. By close attention to his business he has secured a large patronage and now enjoys a prosperity, which is the result of many years of applied energy. 

In 1881 Mr. Simser was united in marriage to Miss Etta B. Miller, who was born near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, May 14, 1861. Two children have blessed this union : Jay Adam, who was born March 8, 1888, and is now telephone manager at Roland, Iowa ; and Erma B., who was born May 3, 1895, and is attending school. 


Mr. Simser is identified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, having been a charter member of Samson Lodge, No. "/"j, Nevada, of the latter organization. 




Politically he gives his support to the republican party and is an ardent advocate of its principles. As a patriotic citizen he attempts to perform his duty to the community and is 

now serving most acceptably as member of the city council. He is essentially a self-made man. 

Starting as a poor boy he has climbed from the bottom of the ladder financially and has now attained a position of independence. Recognizing the difficulties that lie in the way of young men who have the desire to advance, he is always ready to extend a helping hand to every worthy aspirant, and it is safe to say that no man in this region has a greater number of true friends than the subject of this review.

This story does not tell about his Alaskan trip was written up by the Nevada newspaper.   I have not found them lately but they are around somewhere.   My father also worked in the Alaskan Highway and when I was a taddler he worked on the highway and I had some moccasins which he gave me.  

This video is  for your viewing pleasure.
Alaskan Summer

Along this line I have to tell about the letter which I got during the Bicentennial in 1976.  I am a former member of the Sons of the American Revolution.  My Mother grandmothers Cole and Underwood joined the Daughters of the American Revolution.  It was of interest to me when I got said letter informing me that I was eligible to purchase a flag to fly with a scroll to frame as a :Bicentennial Family:...  I don't remember what it cost but I was not interested.  I sent them a letter with my regrets as that while I did treasure my American Revolutionary heritage I also treasured my Simser heritage and my great great grandfather, John Simser, adhered to the British cause at the time of the Revolutionary war and fought in the army of the king - I really enjoyed sending that letter out.